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| London helicopter crash: Two die in Vauxhall crane accident | London helicopter crash: Two die in Vauxhall crane accident |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two people were killed and 12 were injured when a helicopter crashed into a crane in central London. | |
| Police said the helicopter hit the crane on top of The Tower, One St George Wharf at about 08:00 GMT. | |
| About 80 firefighters were at the scene near Wandsworth Road in South Lambeth. Pilot Pete Barnes was killed in the crash, while the other person killed was on the ground. | |
| The pilot had asked to be diverted to a nearby heliport because of bad weather. | The pilot had asked to be diverted to a nearby heliport because of bad weather. |
| Jon Horne, chief executive of Redhill Aerodrome Ventures, where the helicopter began its flight at 07:35, said it was owned by the Rotormotion private charter firm. | |
| Metropolitan Police Commander Neil Basu told BBC News it was "miraculous" the crash was not much worse. | Metropolitan Police Commander Neil Basu told BBC News it was "miraculous" the crash was not much worse. |
| Burning wreckage lay in the road but the fire was brought under control within 25 minutes, the fire brigade said. | Burning wreckage lay in the road but the fire was brought under control within 25 minutes, the fire brigade said. |
| 'Enormous bang' | 'Enormous bang' |
| Five people were taken to hospital. One had a broken leg and the others had minor injuries. Seven people were treated at the scene. | |
| Pauline Cranmer, from London Ambulance Service, said: "There were a number of injuries that would potentially be consistent with being hit by debris." | |
| The Civil Aviation Authority said pilots had previously been notified of the crane involved in the crash. | |
| Part of the crane was left hanging from the side of the residential building, which is still under construction. London Fire Brigade said part of the tail section of the helicopter landed on roof of the building and the main section landed in Wandsworth Road, hitting two cars. The fire from the helicopter ignited two buildings. | Part of the crane was left hanging from the side of the residential building, which is still under construction. London Fire Brigade said part of the tail section of the helicopter landed on roof of the building and the main section landed in Wandsworth Road, hitting two cars. The fire from the helicopter ignited two buildings. |
| The helicopter was on a scheduled flight from Redhill in Surrey to Elstree in Hertfordshire, according Mr Horne. | |
| He said it was an Agusta 109, a lightweight, twin-engine helicopter, and that just the pilot was on board when it departed Redhill. | |
| Mr Horne said: "We believe it was unable to land in Elstree and was diverting to an alternate location. The next information we had was following the crash in south London." | |
| A spokesman for London Heliport at Battersea said the pilot had requested to divert and land there due to bad weather. | |
| The incident caused gridlock with all approaches to the Vauxhall Cross one way system closed at the height of the rush hour and Vauxhall Tube station and railway station closed, though the stations have since reopened. | The incident caused gridlock with all approaches to the Vauxhall Cross one way system closed at the height of the rush hour and Vauxhall Tube station and railway station closed, though the stations have since reopened. |
| London Fire Brigade said more than 50 other firefighters were at St George's Wharf to secure the damaged crane. | London Fire Brigade said more than 50 other firefighters were at St George's Wharf to secure the damaged crane. |
| It was a cold start to the day with the tops of many high rises cloaked in mist as Londoners living in Vauxhall were waking up and preparing to go out. | It was a cold start to the day with the tops of many high rises cloaked in mist as Londoners living in Vauxhall were waking up and preparing to go out. |
| Canadian Virginia Bennett, who lives in one of the residential apartments facing the River Thames, was getting ready to take her dog Abby for a walk when the morning calm was shattered by "the noise of metal crashing". | Canadian Virginia Bennett, who lives in one of the residential apartments facing the River Thames, was getting ready to take her dog Abby for a walk when the morning calm was shattered by "the noise of metal crashing". |
| She said: "It sounded like a big car crash. We are not on the roadside so that didn't make sense. | She said: "It sounded like a big car crash. We are not on the roadside so that didn't make sense. |
| "I opened the curtain and saw what appeared [to be] big pieces [of] metal falling. | "I opened the curtain and saw what appeared [to be] big pieces [of] metal falling. |
| "I went out to the living room and looked out and could see the black smoke. Then my husband and I realised that the top of the crane was gone." | "I went out to the living room and looked out and could see the black smoke. Then my husband and I realised that the top of the crane was gone." |
| The BBC weather centre said weather observations at the time of the crash showed very low cloud but not thick fog. The nearest observation site was London City Airport which at 08:00 reported 700m visibility with broken cloud at a height of 100ft. | The BBC weather centre said weather observations at the time of the crash showed very low cloud but not thick fog. The nearest observation site was London City Airport which at 08:00 reported 700m visibility with broken cloud at a height of 100ft. |
| NATS, which runs air traffic control across the UK, said the pilot had been receiving assistance earlier in the flight but not at the time of the crash. | NATS, which runs air traffic control across the UK, said the pilot had been receiving assistance earlier in the flight but not at the time of the crash. |
| Julian Firth, who is leading a team from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigating the crash, said the wreckage would be taken to its site at Farnborough, Hampshire. | |
| He said it would take several months to produce a full report into the incident. | |
| An RNLI lifeboat was initially sent to search the Thames near the crash scene following a request from London Heliport after it lost contact with the aircraft. | |
| Fire brigade station manager Bruce Grain said crews arrived at the scene in four minutes. | Fire brigade station manager Bruce Grain said crews arrived at the scene in four minutes. |
| He said the helicopter fell into Wandsworth Road, hitting various vehicles and bursting into flames and there were also fires in nearby buildings. | He said the helicopter fell into Wandsworth Road, hitting various vehicles and bursting into flames and there were also fires in nearby buildings. |
| A man was rescued from a burning car by firefighters. | A man was rescued from a burning car by firefighters. |
| Wandsworth Road was blocked by the burning wreckage and aviation fuel and the side of a building also caught fire. | Wandsworth Road was blocked by the burning wreckage and aviation fuel and the side of a building also caught fire. |
| A motorcycle was also lying on its side in the road where it was abandoned. | A motorcycle was also lying on its side in the road where it was abandoned. |
| Witness Michael Krumstets said: "I was on my way to work this morning with my flatmate when the helicopter crashed right next to us. | Witness Michael Krumstets said: "I was on my way to work this morning with my flatmate when the helicopter crashed right next to us. |
| "We saw the helicopter clip the crane and heard a loud crack, it started spinning out of control and directly towards us. It took just seconds for this to happen. | "We saw the helicopter clip the crane and heard a loud crack, it started spinning out of control and directly towards us. It took just seconds for this to happen. |
| "We ran as it fell towards us. We got away just in time. | "We ran as it fell towards us. We got away just in time. |
| "We were just feet away when it hit the ground and exploded." | "We were just feet away when it hit the ground and exploded." |
| Mark Osbourne, from a bike shop near the scene, said he ran to try to help the injured. | Mark Osbourne, from a bike shop near the scene, said he ran to try to help the injured. |
| "There was lots of wreckage and fire," he said. | "There was lots of wreckage and fire," he said. |
| "I saw a woman on a motorcycle that must have missed the carnage by six feet. | "I saw a woman on a motorcycle that must have missed the carnage by six feet. |
| "It felt like a war movie, it was surreal." | "It felt like a war movie, it was surreal." |
| 'People screaming' | 'People screaming' |
| Craig Dunne, who was walking to work at the time of the accident, said: "When I got to the end of the road there was a massive explosion and the crane is obviously in pieces. | Craig Dunne, who was walking to work at the time of the accident, said: "When I got to the end of the road there was a massive explosion and the crane is obviously in pieces. |
| "And I looked to the left-hand side and there were cars - three cars on fire - people screaming, shouting and hollering, and the next thing I know there are police, ambulances and everything everywhere and people going crazy. It's madness - absolute madness." | "And I looked to the left-hand side and there were cars - three cars on fire - people screaming, shouting and hollering, and the next thing I know there are police, ambulances and everything everywhere and people going crazy. It's madness - absolute madness." |
| Mark Correll was cycling along Wandsworth Road when debris from the crash started falling around him. | Mark Correll was cycling along Wandsworth Road when debris from the crash started falling around him. |
| "I heard a massive explosion and looked up to see debris falling everywhere from the sky," he said. | "I heard a massive explosion and looked up to see debris falling everywhere from the sky," he said. |
| "I didn't hang around as there was massive debris falling intermittently and if anything had hit me I would have been killed. | "I didn't hang around as there was massive debris falling intermittently and if anything had hit me I would have been killed. |
| "My first instinct was to dodge the debris - I thought the building was going to collapse. | "My first instinct was to dodge the debris - I thought the building was going to collapse. |
| "It was easily the most frightening thing I have ever witnessed." | "It was easily the most frightening thing I have ever witnessed." |
| Ex-BBC producer Paul Ferguson said the helicopter "plummeted straight into the ground". | Ex-BBC producer Paul Ferguson said the helicopter "plummeted straight into the ground". |
| He said the building the helicopter hit was "shrouded in mist". | He said the building the helicopter hit was "shrouded in mist". |
| Market worker Andrew Ross said: "I heard a loud bang and I saw this helicopter falling out of the sky. | Market worker Andrew Ross said: "I heard a loud bang and I saw this helicopter falling out of the sky. |
| "(There was) an orange glow and lots of smoke coming up. | "(There was) an orange glow and lots of smoke coming up. |
| "It was flying below cloud cover - it was still foggy and a little bit dark." | "It was flying below cloud cover - it was still foggy and a little bit dark." |
| Michael Gavin, who was waiting for a train on a platform at Vauxhall station, said: "I heard the bang - the top of the crane was obscured by the fog so I did not see the impact but I did see the helicopter falling to the ground along with pieces of the crane, then the long plume of smoke from there. | Michael Gavin, who was waiting for a train on a platform at Vauxhall station, said: "I heard the bang - the top of the crane was obscured by the fog so I did not see the impact but I did see the helicopter falling to the ground along with pieces of the crane, then the long plume of smoke from there. |
| "It was really quite shocking. There was a group of us on the platform waiting, we could not see where it hit because it was blocked by a wall at the end of the station. | "It was really quite shocking. There was a group of us on the platform waiting, we could not see where it hit because it was blocked by a wall at the end of the station. |
| "There were a lot of worried people around." | "There were a lot of worried people around." |
| Nicky Morgan, MP for Loughborough, heard an "enormous bang" as she walked towards Vauxhall Tube before seeing "clouds of black smoke". | Nicky Morgan, MP for Loughborough, heard an "enormous bang" as she walked towards Vauxhall Tube before seeing "clouds of black smoke". |
| Quinn Murray, who was cycling when he saw the crash, said: "I saw the helicopter hit the top of the crane and come down just to the left of the station. | Quinn Murray, who was cycling when he saw the crash, said: "I saw the helicopter hit the top of the crane and come down just to the left of the station. |
| "There was quite a large amount of fire and a huge smoke cloud. It wasn't on the road, but into a building site where they are building the new Nine Elms area." | "There was quite a large amount of fire and a huge smoke cloud. It wasn't on the road, but into a building site where they are building the new Nine Elms area." |
| CLICKABLE | CLICKABLE |
| Damaged crane | Damaged crane |
| Wandsworth Road | Wandsworth Road |
| Vauxhall | Vauxhall |
Damaged crane | Damaged crane |
| The helicopter hit a crane near St George Wharf Tower. The building was shrouded in mist. | The helicopter hit a crane near St George Wharf Tower. The building was shrouded in mist. |
Wandsworth Road | Wandsworth Road |
| The helicopter crashed on Wandsworth Road close to New Covent Garden Flower market. Two people have been killed and nine others injured, police report. | The helicopter crashed on Wandsworth Road close to New Covent Garden Flower market. Two people have been killed and nine others injured, police report. |
Vauxhall | Vauxhall |
| This image captured by Victor Jimenez near Vauxhall Station showed a pall of smoke rising above the crash site just after 8:00 am. | This image captured by Victor Jimenez near Vauxhall Station showed a pall of smoke rising above the crash site just after 8:00 am. |
| Erin Rogers, who was waiting at a bus stop outside Vauxhall station, said: "It was a bit surreal actually. I just had a coffee in my hand, I looked up, heard a bang and saw bits of crane debris falling to the floor. | Erin Rogers, who was waiting at a bus stop outside Vauxhall station, said: "It was a bit surreal actually. I just had a coffee in my hand, I looked up, heard a bang and saw bits of crane debris falling to the floor. |
| "Then the helicopter was in flames. The rest of the people at the bus station were looking on going 'What was that?'. | "Then the helicopter was in flames. The rest of the people at the bus station were looking on going 'What was that?'. |
| "It's something I will never forget for a long time." | "It's something I will never forget for a long time." |
| The emergency services were praised for their swift response by Councillor Lib Peck, leader of Lambeth Council. | The emergency services were praised for their swift response by Councillor Lib Peck, leader of Lambeth Council. |
| She said: "I understand that swift action by the fire service may well have saved the life of one of the casualties of the crash. | She said: "I understand that swift action by the fire service may well have saved the life of one of the casualties of the crash. |
| Rigorous controls | Rigorous controls |
| "The safety of Lambeth residents is my major concern and I will be seeking reassurances about the procedures governing helicopter flights." | "The safety of Lambeth residents is my major concern and I will be seeking reassurances about the procedures governing helicopter flights." |
| Kate Hoey, Labour MP for Vauxhall, said : "My initial thought was that it might have hit one of the many densely populated tall buildings. To hear it had hit the crane was a relief in some way. | Kate Hoey, Labour MP for Vauxhall, said : "My initial thought was that it might have hit one of the many densely populated tall buildings. To hear it had hit the crane was a relief in some way. |
| "Police said to me that their first fear was it was the police helicopter, however, it had been grounded because of the weather." | "Police said to me that their first fear was it was the police helicopter, however, it had been grounded because of the weather." |
| She told the BBC the rapid increase in the number of tall buildings in London meant more rigorous controls over who can fly where may be needed. | She told the BBC the rapid increase in the number of tall buildings in London meant more rigorous controls over who can fly where may be needed. |
| At Prime Minister's Questions she asked David Cameron for a review of the rules on helicopters flying over central London. | At Prime Minister's Questions she asked David Cameron for a review of the rules on helicopters flying over central London. |
| Mr Cameron said: "She's right that it's not an issue for today but inevitably it's something that has to be carefully looked at." | Mr Cameron said: "She's right that it's not an issue for today but inevitably it's something that has to be carefully looked at." |
| The Civil Aviation Authority said there were 16,374 helicopter flights over London in 2012. It said single-engine craft were required to fly along certain routes, selected to provide safety, and while twin-engine helicopters could operate in wider areas, all were subject to air traffic control clearance. | The Civil Aviation Authority said there were 16,374 helicopter flights over London in 2012. It said single-engine craft were required to fly along certain routes, selected to provide safety, and while twin-engine helicopters could operate in wider areas, all were subject to air traffic control clearance. |
| It said pilots were notified of very tall structures for flight planning purposes, as was the case with the crane involved in the crash. | It said pilots were notified of very tall structures for flight planning purposes, as was the case with the crane involved in the crash. |
| The Met told the BBC there was no suggestion the incident was linked to terrorism. | The Met told the BBC there was no suggestion the incident was linked to terrorism. |
| Are you in Vauxhall? Did you see the crash? Are you a pilot who regularly flies over London? Please send through your experiences, and any pictures and videos you may have captured | Are you in Vauxhall? Did you see the crash? Are you a pilot who regularly flies over London? Please send through your experiences, and any pictures and videos you may have captured |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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